Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Bracket Banter is our daily open thread to discuss all things bracket. Readers can post comments and questions during the night's games, and we will answer those questions as the night goes on.

Wednesday's GamesIt's a big night for several teams jockeying for position in their respective leagues, and it's an even bigger night for a handful of teams who have taken up residence on the bubble. The headline game of the night is Texas A&M at Texas, the winner of which can claim (for now, at least) the title of second best team in the Big XII. The Aggies are coming off a big home win over Missouri, while the Longhorns are beginning their toughest two-game stretch of the year - they make a trip to Lawrence to face the second-ranked Jayhawks on Saturday.

There are two huge games in the Big East tonight as well, as St John's plays at Louisville and Cincinnati plays at Notre Dame. The Bearcats have lost by double digits in both of their Big East road games so far (Villanova and Syracuse), and if they have an 0-2 week this week (they play at St. John's on Saturday), the Big East will likely be back to a 10-bid league on Monday.

Elsewhere in the power conferences, newly minted No. 1 Ohio State hosts Iowa, and the old No. 1, Duke, plays another tricky road game at North Carolina State. Also in the ACC, Florida State plays at Miami in what will likely be a big result for both down the road, and Virginia plays at Boston College. In the Big Ten, Penn State looks to continue its solid play of late as they travel to Purdue. The Nittany Lions have played really well of late and nearly upset Ohio State on the road their last time out. If they were to get a victory in Mackey Arena, a case could be made for them to get a bid in next week's bracket.

There are several important games involving mid-majors tonight as well. The biggest of those games is the C-USA battle between Memphis and Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Southern Miss replaced Memphis as the league's automatic bid in our latest bracket thanks to a home win over UCF on Saturday. If the Golden Eagles can beat the Tigers tonight, they will have a big leg up in the race for the C-USA regular season title. In the MVC, Missouri State faces a tough road test at surprising Indiana State, and our last team in, Wichita State, hosts Northern Iowa. In the A-10, bracket newcomer Xavier plays at St. Bonaventure and bracket dropout Richmond hosts George Washington.

Also keep an eye on: Air Force at San Diego State, Iowa State at Oklahoma State, Colorado State at UNLV, Marshall at West Virginia, Mississippi at Vanderbilt, Penn at Temple, San Diego at St. Mary's, James Madison at Old Dominion, Arkansas at South Carolina, New Mexico at Utah

Which loss (or margin) do you think is most surprising so far tonight--UCF losing against East Carolina, Wake Forest getting thumped by Georgia Tech, or West Virginia being upset by Marshall? It's too bad that Penn State wasn't able to get it done against Purdue--those kind of chances to win resume boosting games don't come every day, not even in the Big 10.

Wake Forest scoring 39 points against Georgia Tech was pathetic, and UCF losing by double-digits at home to a team as poor as East Carolina was certainly a head-scratcher (more on this game in a second), but the most surprising score of the night was Marshall's upset of West Virginia. The Mountaineers had beaten two top 15 teams in the last week, were up to a 4 seed in our latest bracket, while Marshall limped in off of a 16-point loss at Memphis. The final score wasn't nearly indicative of how well the Thundering Herd played throughout this game - they led by 24 (24!) early in the second half before West Virginia rallied late.

Wednesday was not a good night on a lot of levels for UCF. Not only did they lose their third straight game in conference, but Marshall picked up a huge OOC win against WVU, Memphis picked up a huge road win at Southern Miss, and UAB beat SMU. Miami also lost at home to Florida State, which slightly downgrades one of UCF's two key OOC wins.

These results made C-USA even more of a convoluted mess than it was before. The league is probably going to get two bids in the end, but UCF is no longer in the driver's seat for one of those bids.

Duke's still going to win the ACC, but that was a huge win for FSU on the road against Miami. The 'Noles have established themseles as the second best team in the conference, and if they can beat BC at home this weekend, they could be as high as a 6 seed in our next bracket.

UNLV will fall a seed line or two as a result of their loss to Colorado State. The Rams' win, coupled with New Mexico's loss, means that Colorado State is now the front-runner for the Mountain West's fourth bid. If they can follow up tonight's win with a win over BYU at home on Saturday, there's a decent chance they'll be in our next bracket. At 1-3 in conference, New Mexico is off the bubble radar for now.

Seems B101 is FSU fans 2nd home. BTW guys, I do appreciate all the info you put out there, as someone who has only really started to follow CBB in the past 5-7 years it is a great resource to gauge my team (FSU).

As for the win last night. I was really happy with how they gutted it out (is Miami even in a next four out situation now?). FSU realistically does have a shot at the regular season crown simply b/c of their schedule. No return trip to Duke, 2xWF, @GT, 2xUNC, UVA, @Clem, and @NCST, plus BC, Miami, and @maryland.

Duke will not finish 15-1, I would be very surprised if the finished better than 13-3. With the head to head loss to FSU, if they both finish 12-4 then FSU gets the 1 seed in the ACCT. I doubt FSU finish 13-3, though the last time the started 4-1 in conference that was their final record in 92-93.

Oh and FSU probably can be in at 10-6 now, with a win in the ACCT 11-5 to feel very safe.

It's not even close...we've written more about Florida State on B101 over the years than any other team. That's what happens you're on the bubble almost every season.

FSU's schedule is definitely favorable the rest of the way. Finishing 10-6 and winning an ACC tourney game might be enough to get them a bid, but an 11-5 finish would end all debate. The key for the Noles will be their final six road games. If they just go 3-3 in those games, they'll amost certainly be dancing.

Penn State will likely have to go 11-7 to be in contention for an at-large. At just 10-8 overall after their loss to Purdue last night, the Nittany Lions have a lot of work to do.

I just don't see FSU competing with Duke. For one thing, I don't think its too much to ask of Duke to go 15-1 or 14-2. Second of all, you just *know* FSU's extremely poor jumpshooting is going to come back to hurt them again like it did vs. Auburn. Expect to see them lose one game they shouldnt, like vs. BC, UVA, or Maryland.

Which often decline (or even perimeter) think is definitely many unexpected to date tonight--UCF losing towards Eastern Carolina, Wake Woodland finding thumped through Runescape GoldGa Technology, or Western side Va becoming disappointed simply by Marshall? It can be bad in which Penn Express had not been capable of getting it completed in opposition to Purdue--those form of odds to be able to Cheap WOW Goldget cv increasing video games don't are available everyday, not really inside Big 10.

Which often decline (or even perimeter) think is definitely many unexpected to date tonight--UCF losing towards Eastern Carolina, Wake Woodland finding thumped through Runescape GoldGa Technology, or Western side Va becoming disappointed simply by Marshall? It can be bad in which Penn Express had not been capable of getting it completed in opposition to Purdue--those form of odds to be able to Cheap WOW Goldget cv increasing video games don't are available everyday, not really inside Big 10.

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